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Schoolgirls watch as dad shoots suspected hijacker

Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
edited July 2002 in General Discussion
Hijackers shot dead by dad

Lizel Steenkamp


Johannesburg - Three Johannesburg primary-school girls watched terrified from the back seat of the family's luxury car as their father shot and killed a suspected hijacker - then chased another one around the car before also fatally wounding him by firing through the car windscreen.

At least 10 shots were fired around the family's 4X4 while the 10-, 12- and 13-year-old girls sat silently terror-stricken next to each other.

They waited until the two blood-soaked bodies of the hijackers were lying in the driveway of their home before rushing into the house.

The children's hysterical mother, who asked that her name be withheld, said on Thursday: "I heard gunshots outside the house and knew something dreadful was happening to my family. I thought they had all died."

She was in her bedroom during the incident and was too scared to look through the window.

"I was terrified and tried to phone the police, but couldn't remember the number. My daughter later banged on the front door, shouting, 'Mom, mom, please open the door!'.

The 41-year-old father was on his way to drop his daughters off at school at 07:30 on Thursday when the two hijackers overwhelmed them.

He said: "One pointed his gun against the back window saying he would shoot my children. The other one had his gun against my head telling me to hand over my house keys."

The hijacker pulled him from the vehicle, without realising the father was armed. The father shot his assailant in the head after the hijacker's shots narrowly missed him.

Meanwhile, the second hijacker was running around the car, threatening to shoot the children.

The father said: "I panicked and started chasing him around the car. I did not want to put my weapon down, fearing they would rape my wife and kids."

The father managed to aim through the windscreen and shoot the second hijacker in the head.

Superintendent Chris Wilken said two more suspects were waiting outside in the street but fled. Police seized two pistols and 10 rounds of ammunition.

The children went to school after the incident to prevent exposing them to the bodies.

Police counsellors have treated the family for trauma.

The father said: "I never meant to kill them, but they were going to kill my children."
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Gauteng/0,1113,2-7-829_1216046,00.html




"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

Comments

  • E.WilliamsE.Williams Member Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good for him!He did what should be done when armed assailants threaten the lives of family.

    Eric S. Williams
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    BRAVO, DAD!!!!!!!!

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
  • beantolebeantole Member Posts: 1,086 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That was excellent training for the hijackers!!
  • 4GodandCountry4GodandCountry Member Posts: 3,968
    edited November -1
    He did what should be done when any assailant armed or not threatens your family.

    When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
  • BlueTicBlueTic Member Posts: 4,072
    edited November -1
    Man that reporter sure put a bit of a negative spin on a heroic event. I can see a bit of concern for the children but the Headline should have been FATHER SAVES FAMILY, KILLs 2 HIJACKERS

    IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)
  • SkyWatcherSkyWatcher Member Posts: 1,571 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Way to go Dad!

    This post brings to mind a question. Even though I hope nothing like this ever happens to my family, I want to teach my wife what to do if something like this ever does. Being that she will never practice enough to be a better than average shooter, what shooting procedures should I teach her.

    Assuming that there are two or more assailants, should I teach her to:
    1. Aim (as quickly and as best she can)
    2. Double tap (or triple?) quickly for each assailant.
    3. Move to the next and repeat.
    4. Return to whomever she started with.

    I realize that it seems rather cold to talk about these things in this manner, but this really is something important. I need a good rule of thumb to tell her that is very easy to remember (like double tap and move to the next). I would think that every gun owner who has a spouse, or older family member, who is not crazy about guns but might need to know what to do in an emergency, would want to teach something like this.

    Now, I don't think anyone should use a gun who is not properly trained in its use. I am in the process of training my wife to shoot, but she will never love it, and will never do more than is absolutely necessary. Basically, I just want to cover all my bases.

    I'd appreciate any input you all might have. Thanks in advance.

    To whom much is given, much is expected.
  • robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bravo Dad???? I'm kinda upset with the guy. With him shooting like that where is the argument for the need for a high capacity mag.? He didnt need more than what was held in his gun without reloading. He didnt have bullets flying all over the neighborhood. He was a responsible shooter. Of course, no one in the media is going to talk aobut that, but they will possible use it as a reason only 10 rounds or less are needed. IF... any of them are smart enough to pick up on that fact. Bill Ruger is smiling at him, from where ever he is. Nice shooting Dad.

    SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
  • captkirk3@dslextreme.comcaptkirk3@dslextreme.com Member Posts: 3,804
    edited November -1
    Darn Good Shooting....! But for those that don't know, this is a rather Common occurance in South Africa...Its a shame...but thats a fact of life. I have several Friends in Natal and Joburg that send me letters talking about Hi-Jacking and assorted Crimes in thier areas..The funniest was the Pair of would be Hijackers that ran up to a Car and each 'Idiot' stood across from each other on each side of the Car...The Idiot on the Drivers Side told the Driver that he was gonna shoot him if he did'nt get out of the car...! And to prove it He fired two shots for effect...and I might add with excellent control...He shot His Partner Idiot #2 Twice in the Head, Killing Him instantly! Then Idiot #1 in His excitment stuffed the Pistol in His Belt and started to Run back up on the Curb to escape...and evidenty had retained a grip on the Pistol because it discharged shooting off His Man Hood...Now thats what I call justice......Best to all who read this tome.....Captain Kirk

    Captain Kirk, Tech Staff
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